Let’s talk about mental health. Whether you’re hustling to run a business, trying to grow a family, grappling with stress from the news cycle (is Mercury always in retrograde?!), or, like me, you’ve served time behind bars, mental health touches everyone. It's the great equalizer—no one’s immune, and it doesn’t discriminate based on age, background, or even your snack preferences (though let’s be honest, a little caramel popcorn can do wonders for the soul).
Contrary to what people might assume, my hardest days weren’t spent in prison. Nope. They were before I even stepped foot inside. I was on house arrest—isolated, shackled by silence (I couldn’t talk about my case), and drowning in legal, emotional, and mental anguish for two and a half years. It was like living in a snow globe of stress—everything looked still from the outside, but inside, everything was swirling in chaos.
And yet, prison ended up being my weirdly wrapped gift. A wake-up call disguised in concrete and barbed wire. I like to say it was the light at the end of a very dark tunnel. Once I got there, the uncertainty was gone. I had time to reflect. I had clarity. I had…structure (and believe me, I needed it). It was time to change the trajectory of my life, one kernel at a time.
Stirring Up Something New
In prison, I made a promise to myself: Take care of your body, mind, and soul. And whatever you do, don’t eat the mystery meat.
I focused on the basics. I exercised daily. I ate as well as I could. I stayed connected to my family, who were like lifelines in tough waters. And I read everything I could get my hands on—from legal docs to cookbooks to entrepreneurship guides. I wrote letters to the authors of the books that I read, and participated in of activities to build new connections.
Then came the spark that would change everything: Comeback Snacks.
Popcorn had always been my guilty pleasure, but now it became something much deeper: a purpose. What started as something to munch on during movie nights turned into a mission—to create handcrafted popcorn that stood for second chances and empowerment, and yes tasted delicious!
Finding that purpose lit a fire under me (and not just in the microwave). It gave my days meaning. I started developing flavours in my head—sweet, salty, bold—and imagining what the world would look like if people saw those with a record as more than just their past. Suddenly, this wasn’t just about snacks. It was about popcorn with a purpose.
Popcorn Therapy? Yes, Please!
Let’s talk therapy. I found it in the most unexpected place: helping others. Yep, serving time taught me that healing comes in all shapes and sizes. I started talking to other women inside, sharing stories, encouraging them, and sometimes just listening.
Turns out, helping others was also an unexpected source of therapy for myself—a gift I will always appreciate.
But there was something else that kept my spirits lifted: making popcorn.
Cooking became an act of mindfulness. It was meditative. The repetition, the creativity, the smells—it was like edible aromatherapy. Turns out, there’s real science behind this. If you’re curious, check out this article on the benefits of cooking for your mental health:
👉 Cooking for Mental Health: Exploring Cooking’s Therapeutic Benefits
There’s just something so satisfying about creating, especially when what you’re creating is a snack that makes people smile. It didn’t even matter the recipe of the day- each on its own was a little moment of joy. And if you ask me, joy is the best kind of therapy.
From Inmate to Entrepreneur
Entrepreneurship while in prison isn’t exactly something they highlight in business school. But thanks to a lot of hustle, hope, and a serious obsession with creating something unique, Comeback Snacks was born.
Today, we’re proud to be known as a brand in Canada that represents more than just the product. We make gourmet popcorn that’s delicious, yes, but also meaningful. Every bag we sell supports prison reform, second chances, and the belief that your past doesn’t define your future.
From snack gift baskets to holiday popcorn gifts, our popcorn has become more than just an occasional indulgence snack—it’s a statement. A statement that people can change. That stories can be rewritten. That a little sweetness can go a long way.
We’ve now got popcorn for movie nights, snacks for parties, and the perfect treats for anyone who just wants a little something to satisfy snack cravings without the guilt. (Guilt-free snacks, anyone?) Plus, you can order popcorn online in Canada with just a few clicks—because nothing should stand between you and your next snack fix.
So What’s the Moral of the Snack Story?
Mental health matters. Whether you’re on top of the world or buried under it, having an outlet—a purpose, a passion, or a perfectly popped bag of popcorn—can make all the difference.
For me, making popcorn and helping others really helped me. It gave me strength I didn’t know I had, taught me lessons I never expected to learn, and gave me the chance to turn my worst moment into something meaningful. Something delicious. Something I could share with the world.
So if you’re going through a tough time, take it one step at a time. Pop some corn, share a smile, help someone if you can, and never forget:
Your comeback story is still being written.